Returning to the dance studio safely (covid-19)

[lucia_l]

Purr,
In Illinois the Governor has announced a staged plan with criteria for a staged re-opening. My studio is also hoping to open in June. Whether it happens.... we'll see.

 

[Purr]

One of the local studios that I follow in FB has announced it will be re-opening towards the end of this month.

- Private lessons only and by appointment, no groups or parties
- Stay home if sick, temp check, 3 health questions
- Wash and sanitize hands before/after lesson
- Only 2 private lessons taking place at a time
- A bunch of other bullet points about table/chair spacing, kitchen/water fountain usage/closure, doors propped open, cleaning protocols, etc.
- Masks: student/teacher agree ahead of time whether or not they will be wearing them
- Must wait in car until lesson time, must come alone

My studio is continuing virtual private lessons and groups this week (so not re-opening physically May 11 as previously communicated to me). No word otherwise at this time.

Is there anything about keeping a distance between student and teacher - like with the extended hand hold in the video clip from Eddie Ares studio? Or maybe the teacher will call out figures or drills, which the student will do on their own from six feet or more away?

 

[Purr]

Purr,
In Illinois the Governor has announced a staged plan with criteria for a staged re-opening. My studio is also hoping to open in June. Whether it happens.... we'll see.

Thank you. I'm not hopeful anymore here in Ohio about dancing before July, if then. I'm just speculating, I have nothing to base this on. I'm also speculating dance studios will be one of the last kinds of businesses to reopen.

 

[scullystwin42]

Why does your studio in Illinois hope it will be able to reopen in June? There has been no guidance in in Ohio regarding these types of businesses yet, although allegedly it will be coming later this month.

based on the "phased" approach that the governor sent out, and the expectation that we will peak in mid-may. our hospital bed availability continues to be ok, and our PPE situation is not great but supposedly improving.

 

[IndyLady]

Is there anything about keeping a distance between student and teacher - like with the extended hand hold in the video clip from Eddie Ares studio? Or maybe the teacher will call out figures or drills, which the student will do on their own from six feet or more away?

No, there was no mention of that. There were some generic references to "social distancing", but nothing I would interpret to specifically apply to the student/teacher on the lesson.

 

[Mengu]

There is at least one studio in Ohio that just announced they are going to reopen for private lessons on May 15th. Their email announcement says instructors will be wearing masks and gloves, students are "recommended to" wear masks and gloves, which they will have available at the studio. That was all the information in their email. To the best of my knowledge, there is no specific guidance to support their reopening. They are neither a personal care service, nor outdoor dining restaurant, which are the types of businesses allowed to reopen in Ohio on May 15th, with specifically directed guidelines. Ballrooms are lumped in with gyms, yoga studios, etc, and are to remain closed at least until the end of the current order's duration (May 29th).

The good news is, there is an advisory group for gyms, including a representative from FADS. So whatever guidelines they're working on, is on the horizon.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

No, there was no mention of that. There were some generic references to "social distancing", but nothing I would interpret to specifically apply to the student/teacher on the lesson.

Funny...I thought the exact same thing...but I was wrong. Despite the studio's announcement, which explicitly avoided coming right out and saying so, I learned this afternoon from Pro that lessons during this "soft reopening" time will be taught at a distance.

 

[lucia_l]

I'm also speculating dance studios will be one of the last kinds of businesses to reopen.

Maybe. But I think they might get lumped in with "health clubs". I think those will open in phase II in Illinois. We are in phase 2. Illinois has been grouped in regions and I'm now obsessively looking at death rates and case rates in our region. (By obsessively, I mean I located the county level data on github and plotted data for the NorthEast regions, with breakdowns for each of the counties in the region.... )

I do suspect our cases will either peak next week or already have. Although, the break outs in some nursing homes in Kane county aren't helping!

 

[Purr]

There is at least one studio in Ohio that just announced they are going to reopen for private lessons on May 15th. Their email announcement says instructors will be wearing masks and gloves, students are "recommended to" wear masks and gloves, which they will have available at the studio. That was all the information in their email. To the best of my knowledge, there is no specific guidance to support their reopening. They are neither a personal care service, nor outdoor dining restaurant, which are the types of businesses allowed to reopen in Ohio on May 15th, with specifically directed guidelines. Ballrooms are lumped in with gyms, yoga studios, etc, and are to remain closed at least until the end of the current order's duration (May 29th).

The good news is, there is an advisory group for gyms, including a representative from FADS. So whatever guidelines they're working on, is on the horizon.

Its sounds like that Ohio studio is reopening illegally. I hadn't heard about it, although that's not surprising. I hope they don't end up on the news like the hair salon owner in Texas did. It's good to know that there is a representative from FADS on the advisory group for gyms. So there is a glimmer of hope. I'm sticking by my statement that some dancing is better than none.

As you stated, hair salons reopen on May 15. My stylist called me yesterday, and the earliest I could get in was June 9. I'm taking a few hours off work for the appointment - I'm tired of grey roots and my bangs getting into my eyes.

 

[Purr]

Funny...I thought the exact same thing...but I was wrong. Despite the studio's announcement, which explicitly avoided coming right out and saying so, I learned this afternoon from Pro that lessons during this "soft reopening" time will be taught at a distance.

This is not surprising. So extended hand holds, drills and practice exercises it is. It's a good thing I'm used to that kind of lesson.

 

[Purr]

The good news is, there is an advisory group for gyms, including a representative from FADS. So whatever guidelines they're working on, is on the horizon.

There is one other business that is dance related that I saw online - The Movement Factory in Lakewood. They offer ballet and hip hop, as well as yoga and Pilates. Their testimonials also reference wedding dances. So that's something.

 

[IndyLady]

Funny...I thought the exact same thing...but I was wrong. Despite the studio's announcement, which explicitly avoided coming right out and saying so, I learned this afternoon from Pro that lessons during this "soft reopening" time will be taught at a distance.

That is very possible. It got me thinking, some of the people I've talked to who are eager to get back to the studio may not be anticipating a "teach from a distance" requirement, which will be a rude awakening. I know a few (one who outright admitted it to me) who can't really dance without a lead (this is a whole other discussion, but suffice to say, not everyone is of the "independently practicing steps and technique on my own" stripes that dominates this board). So even returning to the same physical space as the instructor is not in any sense for them a "return to normal".

 

[Terpsichorean Clod]

I can't get this song out of my head.

 

[DrDoug]

If you get tired of that song, you can replace it with "Dancing with Myself".

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

This is not surprising. So extended hand holds, drills and practice exercises it is. It's a good thing I'm used to that kind of lesson.

Genuine question (not sarcasm): what are the benefits of doing this kind of lesson in person instead of virtually online? I mean, what are the ways in which this kind of lesson is BETTER in person?

And ARE they indeed worth full price? (CRAAAAAACK! That's the sound of a can of worms being opened.)

I realize that the pro’s time is valuable, and a very good argument can be made that he should get paid his full rate, regardless of the format of the lesson (e.g., even if he broke his foot and has to teach while sitting in a wheelchair or whatever).

But I’m struggling a little bit to feel good about this. Before I spent the last 8 weeks (specifically: 56 days, 14 hours, and 49 minutes...but who’s counting) out of the studio & away from my pro, I wouldn’t have given this question a second thought.

I guess I’ll find out this evening if it’s worth it to me. My options are limited, after all. Take it or leave it.

some of the people I've talked to who are eager to get back to the studio may not be anticipating a "teach from a distance" requirement, which will be a rude awakening.

Why aren’t the studios making this limitation clear? Is everyone supposed to “just know” that it’s necessary, so it doesn’t have to be spelled out? Hmm...maybe it’s like hand-washing. My studio didn’t spell that out either...maybe it is just such an obvious GIVEN that they don’t need to list it (along with advice such as “grasp the door handle with your hand. Pull the door towards you. Once the door is open wide enough for you to walk forward through the opening, walk forward through the opening, and let go of the door handle”).

But obviously the studios have their work cut out for them, as they have a LOT of bases to cover, and they’ll never be able to please everyone under current county & state & country restrictions. So probably they are doing their best, and minor oversights in written announcements are inevitable (not intentional).